Non-gyrating projectile fuse



Dec. 19, 1967 Filed Jan. 5, 1966 A. COMBOURIEUX NON-GYRATING PROJECTILEFUSE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 19, 1967 A. COMBOURIEUX 3,358,604

NON'GYRATING PROJECTILE FUSE Filed Jan. 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A.COMBOURIEUX NON-GYRATING PROJECTILE FUSE Dec. 19, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Jan. 5, 1966 Dec. 19, 1967 A. COMBOURIEUX 3,358,604

NON'GYRATING PROJECTILE FUSE Filed Jan. 5, 1966 5 SheetsSheet 4 Dec. 19,1967 A. COMBOURIEUX NON-GYRATING PROJECTILE FUSE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJan. 5, 1966 w un A V |I United States Patent 3,358,604 NON-GYRAIINGPROJECIILE FUSE Andr Combonrieux, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor toIndustrial Holding Establishment, Vaduz, Liechtenstein Filed Jan. 5,1966, Ser. No. 518,889 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Jan. 8,1965, 278/65 1 Claim. (Cl. 10276) ABSTRACT OF TIIE DISCLOSRE An impactprojectile fuse having a body and a cover for the body. A trajectorysafety means comprises a rack and an escapernent cooperating With suchrack. The movement of the rack is controlled by the escapement. A firstlocking means is provided for a rocker arm to prevent operation of therocker arm before firing and also the movement of a 'hammer bolt. Asecond locking means is provided for the hammer bolt controlled by the.rack to release the hammer after a predetermined movement of the rack.The first locking means comprises a rod movable axially in the body ofthe fuse and which is accessible by merely removing the fuse cover sothat such rod may be brought back to a security position after a trialoperation. The escapement is of a reversible type and the body of thefuse is provided With a radial orifice in order to permit acting on therack from the outside to bring it back to position after an operationaltrial.

The present invention concerns a non-gyrating pro jectile fuse, of thetype operating upon impact and comprising, on the one hand, trajectorysafety means inclnding a rocker-mm actuated by a spring and regulatingthe speed of radial movement of a rack, through the agency of anescapement, and on the other hand, first locking means to prevent, onthe One hand the operation of the rocker-arm before firing, and on theother hand the movement of a hammer bolt, as well as additional lockingmeans for the hammer bolt, driven by the rack, so as completely torelease the hammer only after a certain movement of this rack.

This fuse is characterized in that the first locking means are formed bya rod movable axially in the body of the fuse and accessible at the sametime as the hammer bolt by dismounting at most the cover of the fuse topermit of bringing this rod and this bolt back to the initial positionafter the operation trial, in that the escapement is of the reversibletype, and in that an orifice is provided radially in the body, oppositeto the rack, to permit of acting on the latter from the outside in orderto bring it -back to the initial position after the operation trial, thesecond locking means being provided to return to the pre trial initialposition, through the influence of gravity, when One brings the fuseinto a certain well defined position, after the hammer bolt has itselfbeen brought back to the initial position.

The accompanyng drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of thefuse according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view in axial section along 1*1 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section along 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section along 33 of FIG. 1 showing the membersin the safety position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the members in theso-called instantaneous position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the members in aso-called lag position.

FIG. 6 is a view in partial section along 66 of FIG. 7, on a largerscale, showing the rocker-arm and escapement device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view in partial section of a detail already visible in FIG.1 and showing the members in the safety position, before firing.

FIG. 9 is a view in cross section along 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the members in theoperating position which they occupy after the firing of the shot.

FIG. 11 is a view in cross section along 1111 of FIG. 10.

The fuse shown comprises a body 1 on which is rotatably mounted a cover2 itself provided with a cap 3. An insulating joint 4 is providedbetween the body 1 and the cover 2. The axial immobilization of thecover relative to the body is efiected due to a slit elastic ring 5disposed in two complementary grooves made the One at 6 in the body 1and the other opposite at 7 in the cover 2. This elastic ring isnormally contracted so as to be disposed completely in the groove 6. Apointed screw 8 disposed in a corresponding threaded hole of the cover 2is provided to separate One front the other the two ends of said ringWhen the screw 8 is screwed home in its hole. The separation of the endsof the ring has for eifect to expand the latter and to bring it into theposition shown in FIG. 1 (to the right) Where it is seen that said ringis partly engaged in the two circular grooves 6 and 7, which preventsany relative axial movement of 1 and 2 while leaving the cover free torotate relative to the body.

When the cover is in the position shown in FIG. 1 which corresponds toFIG. 3, the members are in a socalled safety position in which thehammer 9 is held stationary by a hammer bolt 10. Simultaneously, a solidwall of a primer-holder barre] 11 is opposite the hammer. On the otherhand, in this safety position, a primer-holder rack 12 ensures thebreaking, as Will be seen later on, of the pyrotechnical chain by whichfiring is effected.

In the safety position, a radial hole 13 made in the body 1 is oppositea solid portion of the cover 2. In this hole are disposed two halls 14,15, the first completely engaged and the second only partly. The ball 15is partly engaged in a notch 16 of a rod 17 parallel to the shaft of thefuse. This rod is provided to slide in a tube 18 made in the frame 19 ofa safety device which Will be described later on. The lower end of thisrod 17, which is hollow, is engaged in a socket 20 itself disposed in ahousing of the body l. A compression spring 21 is disposed inside thesocket 20 and acts upwardly in FIG. 1, on the rod 17. long as the halls14 and 15 are in the position shown in FIG. 1, the rod 17 isimmobilized. In this safety position, the rod 17 immobilizes the hammerbolt 10, that is to say prevents it from rotating about its pivotingspindle 22 (FIG. 2).

The following means are further provided in order to immobilize thehammer bolt 10. A ball 23 is partly engaged in a housing 24 of the lowerface of the bolt 10 and partly in a hole 25 parallel to the axis of thefuse and made in the upper part 26 of the frame 19. This frame 19, 26 isin two pieces for mounting reasons. This hall is held in the positionshown in FIG. 1 by a rod 27 disposed in the hole 26 to slide therein.The lower end of this rod abats against the prime-holder rack 12 whenthe members are in the position according to FIG. 1.

When it is desired to arm the fuse to bring it either in theinstantaneous position shown in FIG. 4, or in the lag position visiblein FIGS. 2 and 5, one turns the cover 2 in the desired directionrelative to the body 1. One Will describe what happens in each of thesecases.

If one turns the cover 2 so as to bring the members in the positionaccording to FIG. 4, that is to say up to the moment when the pointer Ifiguring on the cover occupies the position which was that of thepointer S when one was in the safety position (FIG. 3), a driving dog 28stationary relative to the cover 2 is partly engaged in a slot 29 madein the prime-bolder barrel 11. Upon relative rotation of the coverrelative to the body, this dog 28 obliges the barrel to rotate about tisown axis by cansing it to pass from the position visible in FIG. 3 tothat shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the priming 30 has placed itself inthe axis of the fuse. This priming is provided for instantaneous firingupon impact. The other priming 31 of the barrel 11 occupies, in theinstantaneous position, the place shown in FIG. 4.

In order to pass from the safety position to the lag position, one turnsthe cover so as to bring the pointer R into the position which thepointer S occupies in the safety position. In the lag position, themembers are dis posed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The rotation of thecover in the opposite direction tothat previously described causes,through the agency of the dog 28, the rotation of the barrel 11 in sucha way that it is the priming 31 which, this time, places itself in theaxis of the fuse (FIG. This priming ditfers from the priming 30 by itsnature, in order to ensure slower firing than in the case of theinstantaneous.

The bringing into the correct instantaneous or lag position, that is tosay the correct angle et rotation et the cover relative to the body, isensured by the following means: a lug 32 is fixed in the body 1 and isopposite a countersinking 33 made in the cover 2. In the safetyposition, this lug is between the two ends of the milling whereas in theinstantaneous position it abuts against one of these ends and in the lagposition, against the other end. Thus, the selection of one of the twooperating positions, lag or instantaneous, may be carried out Withouteye help. When the members of the fuse are either in the instantaneousposition, or in the lag position, the projectile may be fired.

This is what takes place at the moment et firing: the bringing of thecover 2 into one of the positions, instantaneous or lag, has for resultto bring opposite the hole 13 a countersinking 34 of suflicient depth topermit the halls 14, 15 to move so as to take up the position accordingto FIG. l0, where the ball 15 is completely free from the notch 16. Therod 17 is thus no longer immobilized by these halls.

At the moment of firing, through inertia, the rod 17 passes from theposition according to FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 10, by compressingits spring 21. As soon as this position has been reached, a leaf spring35 fixed in a manner not shown on a part of the frame o-f the mech anismslackens and passes from the position according to FIG. 8 to thataccording to FIG. 10, where its free end places itself opposite theupper end of the rod 17. From this moment, this spring 35 prevents therod 17 from re acting to the action of the spring 21. This rod is thusimmobilized in the lower position.

In this lower position, another notch 36 of the rod 17 is opposite arockerarm 37 mounted to pivot about a hollow spindle 38 coaxial with thefuse. Before the firing of the shot, that is to say as long as the rod17 was in the upper position, this rod blocked the rocker-arma andprevented it to oscillate. Now that it is in the lower position, it nolonger opposes this oscillation. This rockerarm thus oscillates underthe action of a driving spring 39, due to the following means: thisspring 39 is disposed in a threaded plug 48 screwed in a radial hole ofthe body 1 placed opposite the primer-holder rack 12. At 41 is seen thepriming carried by 12 and at 42 the escapement cooperating with atoothed wheel 43 integral with a pinion 44 itself gearing with anothertoothed wheel 45; this latter is integral with another pinion 46 which,itself, gears with the teeth 47 of the primer-holder rack 12. One willunderstand that under the action of the compression spring 39, as soonas the rocker-mm can oscillate, the gear train described begins t0rotate and the escapement 42 to function, which has for result to causethe rack 12 to advance step by step. This movement of the rack 12 in theframe 19 continues until this rack abuts against a part of the body ofthe fuse, as shown in FIG.

11. At the end of the racks travel, the priming 41 of the latter is inthe axis of the fuse and from thence on the diterent elements of thepyrotechnical chain 30 or 31, 41 and a relay 53 of a detonator 54 (FIG.10) are in alignment and firing may take place. In fact, before arrivingat the end of the racks travel, the rear end 48 of the latter has passedin front of the lower end of the rod 27, so that this rod is no longerblocked in the position according to FIG. 1. Under the action of atorsion spring not shown, acting on the hammer bolt 10, this bolt beginsto rotate, thus forcing the ball 23 and the rod 27 downwards sincenothing any longer holds back this rod. As soon as the hammer bolt hasreleased the hammer, the latter is able to bring about the ring at themoment'when the projectile meets an obstacle. The operation of thehammer may take place in two ways: either by percussion of the centralpart 49 of the cap 3 which crashes bringing about the driving back ofthe hammer downwardly in FIG. 1, or simply by inertia, if the projectilebits an obstacle in a skimming way and in this latter case, at themoment of braking or stopping of the projectile, through inertia, theprimer-holder barrel 11 is projected forwards and the priming 30 or 31which is in the axial position strikes the point of the hammer. One secsat 50 the spring which normally maintains the hammer in the position ofrest.

It is seen that the fuse shown comprises trajectory safety meansincluding a rocker-ana, spring-actuated and regulating the speed ofradial movement of a primerholder rack, this adjustment being effectedthrough the agency of an escapement. These trajectory safety meansfurther comprise first locking means (rod 17 to prevent on the one handthe operation of the rocker-arm before firing and on the other hand themovement of the hammer bolt. Additional locking means shown by the rod27 and the ball 23 are provided so as completely to release the hammeronly after a certain movement of the rack.

It is to be noted that the first locking means are constituted in thisexample in a very advantageous manner by a single element 17 provided toslide axially in the body of the fuse. One thus replaces by a singlemember a complicatcd assembly of members which is to be found in certainexisting fuses. Of course, means not shown and easy to imagine areprovided to prevent accidental rotation of the rod 17 about its ownaxis.

It should be noted that the rod 17 is accessible at the same time as thehammer bolt 10 simply by removing the cover 2. This removal is easysince it is sufficient to unscrew slightly the pointed screw 8 for theelastie ring 5 to take up the withdrawn position and free the cover.Thus, it is possible, after the operation trial, to return the rod 17and the bolt 10 to the initial position. By operaton trial, is meant, asis well known, a mechanical trial permitting of verifying all thefunctions of the fuse except, of course, the firing. This firing may beprevented very simply by providing for the trial a primer-holder barrelequipped with an inert priming, barrel which is replaced after thetrial. Other methods of procedure are known.

Moreover, there is provided in the body 1 a radial threaded hole 51, ina position diametrally opposite to the spring 39. A threaded plug 52normally closes this hole. After the operation trial, when the rack 12has reached the end of its travel (FIG. 1l), it is easy to return thisrack to the initial position. In fact, it is sufficient to unscrew theplug 52 and to push back the rack 12 by means of a rod inserted in thehole 5l, until this rack is at the end of its travel. This withdrawalmovement of the rack is possible since the escapement is chosen from thereversible type. When the rack is thus brought back to the initialposition according to FIG. 1, While maintaining it in this position, oneoperates on the rod 17 by means of another rod of the same diameter tobring about the withdrawal of the holding spring 35 and then the returninto the upper position of the rod 17 under the action of the spring 21.This donc, the escapement mechanism and the rack are immobilized in theinitial position. Of course, one has been careful to begin by bringingby hand the hammer bolt to the locking position thon to reverse thefuse, point downwards, which has for result to bring back throughgravity the rod 27 and the ball 23 to the working position according toFIG. 1. Thus, the lower end of this rod allows free passage for the rack12 in its withdrawal movement.

The contre] being efiected and the members being brought back to theinitial position, one again positions the cover and one screws home thepointed screw 8, then one repositions the plug 52. The members 8 and 52may then definitely be immobilzed by a centre punch blow or by hammeringin order to prevent acts of sabotage.

What I claim is:

A non-gyrating impact projectile fuse comprising a body, a cover forsaid body, a trajectory safety means comprising a rack, an escapementcooperating with said rack, a rocker-mm, a spring cooperating with saidrockerarm for regulating the speed of radial movement of said rackcontrolled by said escapement, a hammer, a hammer boit, a first lockingmeans for said rocker-mm to prevent the operation of said rocker-mmbefore firing and the movement of said hammer bolt, a second lockingmeans for said hammer boit controlled by said rack to release completelysaid hammer after a predetermined movement of said rack, said firstlocking means comprising a rod movable axially in said body, said rodand said hammer bolt being accessible by dismounting said cover to bringsaid rod and bolt back to the initial position after an operation trial,said escapement being of the reversible type, said body having a radialorifice opposite said rack t0 permit acting on said rack from theexterior to return it to initial position after an operation trial, saidsecond locking means returning to pretrial initial position by gravityWhen said hammer bolt has been brought back to initial position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,579 9/1915 Faber 102822,664,822 1/1954 Hale 10274 2,821,925 2/1958 Varaud 10284 2,967,4831/1961 Junghans et al 10283 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner.

G. H. GLANZMAN, Assistant Examiner.

